FAZILKA: A dead rat found in the midday meal served to students of S D Senior Secondary School's elementary wing on Friday has exposed the blatant carelessness of the authorities in keeping up with the primary objective of the scheme - to provide a healthy diet. The rodent was spotted by a staffer at the time the students began to eat and the food was being distributed, thus aggravating any possible risk of an ailment.
The matter was brought to the notice of the school management though the distribution of food was instantly put to an end. The vendor was summoned and the food returned. Vipin Kumar, who is the vendor at an NGO 'Istri Shakti' and given the task of supplying food to schools in the district claimed that freshly-prepared "kadi chawal" had been sent to the institution in the morning and the management had accepted the material after inspection.
When questioned about the presence of a dead rodent, Vipin said tersely: "This could have happened in the school wherever they store the midday meal till its served. We thoroughly check the meals beforehand and carefully package the dishes. The entire stock was called back after the complaint." Fazilka district education officer Sandip Dhria had sought a detailed report from the school principal.
On coming to know of the happening, a number of parents gathered outside the school protesting and demanding a stern action. "Seems they want to kill our kids. What do talk of standards, they do not even ensure the minimum hygiene," rued a parent.
This has not been an isolated case of adulteration in midday meals. Earlier, reports came in of the presence of worms in food.
The matter was brought to the notice of the school management though the distribution of food was instantly put to an end. The vendor was summoned and the food returned. Vipin Kumar, who is the vendor at an NGO 'Istri Shakti' and given the task of supplying food to schools in the district claimed that freshly-prepared "kadi chawal" had been sent to the institution in the morning and the management had accepted the material after inspection.
When questioned about the presence of a dead rodent, Vipin said tersely: "This could have happened in the school wherever they store the midday meal till its served. We thoroughly check the meals beforehand and carefully package the dishes. The entire stock was called back after the complaint." Fazilka district education officer Sandip Dhria had sought a detailed report from the school principal.
On coming to know of the happening, a number of parents gathered outside the school protesting and demanding a stern action. "Seems they want to kill our kids. What do talk of standards, they do not even ensure the minimum hygiene," rued a parent.
This has not been an isolated case of adulteration in midday meals. Earlier, reports came in of the presence of worms in food.
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